A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the Redactor, as a part of the Documentary Hypothesis-- the theory that a later Redactor cut and pasted (so to speak) the Pentateuch together, drawing from multiple sacred sources. There are two really good articles
here (dense, but with a fun flow chart on p. 3) and this great
PBS piece.
Indeed... Our readings in Exodus this week illustrate how scholars sought such a hypothesis, as the text reveal the work of the Priestly Redactor, and it's not always tidy work...the seams between the Priestly text (intense, detailed description of the Tabernacle, priestly garments, etc), and the Yahwist and Elohist story tellers as well. (Did the people go up to meet The Lord or not? Did Moses see The Lord face to face....or not?) These contradictions, changes in vocabulary, names given to places, as well as repeated stories...that aren't quite the same... all suggestions of the various versions of this sacred story, woven together...
And then there's Aaron, and the role he plays in this great adventure. He played the role in Egypt for the good. But now Aaron seems to be a troublemaker. Or at least not strong enough to stand up to the impatient children of Israel left in his care while Moses was up the mountain...(which mountain was that? ;) ) We hear Aaron dodging responsibility..."I didn't make that calf! I just threw the gold in the fire and look what came out! Poof! It's a calf!" So yes, this book of Exodus might be seeming a bit... untidy. You haven't missed anything. There's nothing wrong with your reading comprehension. It's what happens when different sources originating hundreds of years apart are sewn together much later.
This happens to a lesser degree in the New Testament. Imagine if an author tried to pull together all the different Gospel stories. Truly, we see our Gospel writers using different sources-- more on that later... but none tries to roll them all into one. However, we've done that... every time we have a Christmas Pageant with both shepherds and Magi... or put out a creche with the same...or hold a service of the Seven Last Words of Christ.
And speaking of Gospel sources... How about that shift between Matthew and Mark?! After walking the agonizing journey of the Passion according to Matthew, and the joy of reunion in the Resurrection, immediately (εὐθὺς-- euthus! You-thoos!) we land in Mark... Only one chapter in, and WOW have we covered a lot of territory. But not a lot of detail. That's Mark. Get the story told. Don't waste time. It's urgent. Must be done...immediately.
Did you miss the Temptations in the Wilderness? No one would blame you if you did... It's buried in here:
11And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved;with you I am well pleased.'
12
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.'
HUH? tempted by Satan? In what way? The angels waited on him, so...was he fasting? Then Whoosh! It's done! and we're on to John's arrest and Jesus' proclamation... εὐθὺς, indeed!
As we read Mark, and reflecting back on Matthew, we'll see how parts of Mark showed up in Matthew, though often greatly elaborated upon (Matthew's Temptations take 11 verses, for example). In some ways, it's easier to see this if one starts with Mark-- a common practice in seminaries, because Mark is understood by most scholars to be the oldest of the canonical Gospels. You can learn more about how parts of Mark show up in Matthew and Luke, and what other sources they have in common, by checking out this article about the Synoptic Gospels, or listening to Dr. David Moseley's presentations on the Gospels on our Sermon Player. This flow chart shows how much each Gospel shares with the rest, and suggests other, external sacred sources that they have in common.
Along the way our Psalms continue to offer us grace. My Hebrew Bible professor, Kathe Darr, says that most of scripture is God's message to us... but that the Psalms are our message to God. It's not always pretty, but it is honest. Tomorrow's Psalm 29 is another fun Psalm we heard a few weeks ago in church, in which the Voice of the Lord, the קוֹל יְהוָה, the Qol Adonai, is very very busy.
More conversation is starting to happen over on the email list serve... if you'd like to join in, but have lost the invitation email, just give me a holler and I'll send you a new link.
As ever, thank you for being on this journey!
Peace,
Paige+
